Getting Energy From Hydrogen

• Hydrogen and Oxygen react to produce Water- not a pollutant
• The reaction is exothermic --> energy is released
• In a combustion engine or in a fuel cell

• Hydrogen gas can be burnt in oxygen as a fuel in the combustion engines of vehicles

hydrogen + oxygen --> water

Pros:
-only form water
-very clean

Cons:
-a special, expenisve engine is required
-you still need to use energy from another source to make the hydrogen
-hydrogen is very hard to store safely (explosive)

A fuel cell is an electrical cell that's supplied with a fuel and oxygen and uses energy from the reaction between them to generate electricity 

• Hydrogen can be used in a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell
• More practical than solar cells and safer than nuclear power (developed in the 1960's as part of the space programme to provide electrical power on spacecraft)
• Doesn't run down or need recharging from the mains
• It produces energy in the form of electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied

• The car industry is developing fuel cells to replace conventional petrol/diesel engines
• Do not produce greenhouse gases, no nitrogen, no oxides, no sulfur dioxide and no carbon monoxide 
• The only by-products are water and heat
• Could eventually help countries to become less dependent on crude oil

Cons:
-takes up more space to store than liquid fuels like petrol
-it is very difficult to store safely- very explosive
-the hydrogen fuel is often made either from hydrocarbons (fossil fuels) or by electrolysis of water (uses electricity)